Old Market is Bristol's most historic street you've probably never explored, a five-minute walk east of Castle Park that mixes 18th-century pubs and a former Victorian theatre with the city's best-known LGBTQ+ nightlife. It's compact enough to see properly in an afternoon, and it sits right between the city centre and the more residential streets of St Pauls.
A short history
Old Market Street was once one of Bristol's main routes into the city and its historic market district, and the area still carries the architecture to prove it. The Stag and Hounds on the street has operated as a working pub since the early 1700s, making it one of the oldest continuously running pubs in Bristol. The Palace Hotel, a grade II listed building dating from 1869 and now trading as the Gin Palace, is one of the street's grandest survivals. The Empire Theatre of Varieties opened in 1893 and, among its footnotes, gave a young Cary Grant (born locally as Archibald Leach) one of his first jobs in show business before he left Bristol for a career in Hollywood.
Bristol's Gay Village
Since the 1990s, Old Market has been established as Bristol's Gay Village, and it remains the centre of the city's LGBTQ+ nightlife today. The area is home to a cluster of long-standing venues, including Bristol Bear Bar - reportedly the UK's only dedicated bear bar - alongside The Old Market Tavern, The Old Market Assembly and The Old Castle Green. Whether Old Market's identity as a gay village is shifting has been a live conversation locally in recent years, as LGBTQ+ nightlife has spread to other parts of the city, but the concentration of venues here remains higher than anywhere else in Bristol.
Trinity Centre and live music
One of Old Market's most striking buildings is the Trinity Centre, a former church that's now a well-regarded live music and events venue, closely associated with the emergence of Bristol's distinctive electronic and bass music scene often referred to as the "Bristol Sound." It hosts club nights, gigs and community events through the week and is worth checking listings for regardless of what else brings you to the area.
Getting there and what's nearby
Old Market sits a short walk from Bristol Temple Meads and the Bristol Bus Station, and is easily combined with a visit to Castle Park or the shops and restaurants of Broadmead and Cabot Circus. It's also within easy reach of St Pauls, another of the city's historically significant neighbourhoods - see our guide to St Pauls for more on that side of the city.
Comparing Old Market to nearby areas
| Old Market | Harbourside/Old City | St Pauls | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character | Historic pubs, LGBTQ+ nightlife | Waterfront, museums, restaurants | Carnival heritage, community culture |
| Best for | An evening out, one afternoon of history | A full day of sightseeing | Culture, carnival season, local food |
| Walk from Temple Meads | 5-10 minutes | 15-20 minutes | 20-25 minutes |
FAQs
What is Old Market in Bristol known for? It's known as Bristol's historic Gay Village and for a cluster of well-preserved 18th and 19th-century buildings, including the Stag and Hounds pub (trading since the early 1700s) and the former Empire Theatre.
Is Old Market safe to visit at night? It's a well-established nightlife area with a steady flow of people through the evening, similar to other central Bristol streets with a concentration of bars. As with anywhere in a city centre, stick to the main street and well-lit routes late at night.
How do I get to Old Market from Bristol Temple Meads? It's about a five to ten-minute walk from Temple Meads station, making it one of the most accessible historic neighbourhoods in the city.
What is the Trinity Centre? A former church on Old Market's edge that's now a live music and events venue, closely tied to the history of Bristol's electronic and bass music scene.
Is Old Market still Bristol's main LGBTQ+ nightlife area? It remains the area with the highest concentration of LGBTQ+ venues in Bristol, including Bristol Bear Bar, though Bristol's wider LGBTQ+ scene has grown beyond just this one street in recent years.
Did anyone famous come from Old Market? The actor Cary Grant, born locally as Archibald Leach, had one of his first jobs in show business at the Empire Theatre of Varieties on Old Market Street in 1893, before moving on to a career in Hollywood.